Thread by @hmns

The Houston Museum of Natural Science has been preparing to reopen since the day we closed, March 17th. Our staff, volunteers and visitors are what make the museum the extraordinary place it is, and their well-being has been the central focus of that planning from the beginning.

We created a Road to Reopening Task Force, comprised of our senior staff, who developed a comprehensive plan, guided by the recommendations of state, city, and county public health officials, to gradually welcome back staff, and visitors, albeit at greatly reduced capacity.

Using the guidelines recommended by national, state and local agencies/authorities, we plan to reopen on MAY 15.

We will carefully and continually monitor the efficacy of these guidelines in real time and make further adjustments as needed.

1. To allow for proper social distancing, we will be operating at 25% capacity or less, and staff will be monitoring the number of visitors in and out of our smaller galleries and other public spaces.

2. Dedicated and separate entrances and exits will also be clearly marked for each purpose.

3. Adjusting the flow of visitors through timed tickets, pre-reserved entry and exit times.

4. Providing face masks and gloves for all staff who engage with the public; spacing workstations to allow for social distancing and allowing support staff to continue work from home.

5. Urging advance online purchase of 'print at home' tickets to create possible 'touch-free' or 'low-touch' entry.

6. Requiring the use of face masks for the visiting public.

7. Utilizing newly installed plexiglass screens at visitor, information, and sales desks to serve as a barrier between employees and visitors. Floor decals will indicate 6-foot spacing at the box office and museum store checkout.

8. Monitoring public spaces to facilitate social distancing and installing signage throughout the facility encouraging social distancing.

9. Installing more hand sanitizing stations and instituting heightened cleaning protocols, including frequent cleaning/disinfection of high-touch door handles, elevators, and restrooms.

10. Implementing cleanliness “patrols” in all exhibition galleries and public areas.

11. Continued closure of hands-on and high-touch components including theaters in the Wiess Energy Hall, docent touch carts and more.

12. The temperature of all employees will be measured before entering the museum; any employees exhibiting a temperature over 100 will be sent home. Upon entering the building, employees must wash/sanitize their hands.

13. The Burke Baker Planetarium, Wortham Giant Screen Theatre and our satellite locations (HMNS Sugar Land and the George Observatory) will remain CLOSED at this time. Opening dates to be determined at a later date.

14. Instituting curbside pick-up for the @shopHMNS store.

15. Canceling lectures and all other public programs through at least May 21.

16. Staff travel outside the Greater Houston region has been suspended since mid-March.

Museums are essential to culture and we are committed to continuing to serve our mission of providing a world class museum experience for the Houston community. #HMNS will continue to expand digital engagement opportunities for those who may not yet feel comfortable returning.

At the same time, our staff continues to work non-stop to develop additional protocols and provide additional support/supplies as needed for those who do.

While we don’t know when the rest of the world will reopen, in the meantime rest assured that you can come here...and go anywhere.

We hope to see you soon.

Joel A. Bartsch, HMNS President & CEO